Apr 7, 2012

G is for Genre-Envy


G is for Genre-Envy

 
The above picture represents the results from a micro-poll running on my blog recently.  As you can see, I was curious about the genre the people who were visiting my blog worked in.  I had a suspicion and it was confirmed by the poll. 

By far, the youth genre (YA and Children) dominated with a combined 32%.  Science Fiction and Fantasy combined for another large chunk at 25%.  The remaining 43% is pretty evenly distributed amongst the other genre's.

I write (and read) in the Mystery/Thriller/Suspense arena and unfortunately there's not too many of us out here in the blogosphere.  I root and cheer for the successes of all my blogging buddies, regardless of the genre, but there are times I feel like an outsider staring in because I just don't know a whole lot about their books.  But I'll tell you this, the other authors in my genre should pay attention to what these other genres are doing out here...and if they're smart...they'll get their blog on!    

42 comments:

  1. Jane of JaneZworldApril 7, 2012 at 5:56 AM

    thats very interesting and a Great Post
    I found you through the
    A-Z 2012 Challenge.
    Here is my link.
    http://www.astringofpearls.org/a-z-in-26-days/
    I have Google problems

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  2. HuntressApril 7, 2012 at 6:14 AM

    We are doomed. If we don't unite, the YA genre will soon overrun us. *tongue firmly in cheek*

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  3. LauritaApril 7, 2012 at 7:07 AM

    Hmmm, looks like the horror genre is lagging too. Pity.

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  4. Michelle WallaceApril 7, 2012 at 7:25 AM

    D.L. I also read/write in the mystery/thriller/suspense genre! (or should I re-phrase that - I try to...)
    I agree with Huntress... we need to unite... brainstorm and come up with a plan to ensure the continuation/survival of our genre... before the vampires, werewolves and other entities take over completely... LOL!

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  5. BrindaApril 7, 2012 at 7:44 AM

    I think a great story is a great story. The YA I read and write has elements of romance, mystery, suspense, paranormal, etc.

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  6. Theresa MilsteinApril 7, 2012 at 7:59 AM

    I'm sorry you have genre envy. I'm in the "right" genre, and still not published.

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  7. Tracy JoApril 7, 2012 at 8:07 AM

    I can relate. I am writing my own story in hopes to help people and offer inspiration...I don't seem to find a lot of that out here BUT it really doesn't matter. I have learned SO MUCH from all the different authors and genres. Have an awesome weekend!

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  8. farawayeyesApril 7, 2012 at 8:07 AM

    Interesting. Maybe it would be beneficial to switch to a genre that isn't running over 10%.

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  9. UnknownApril 7, 2012 at 8:45 AM

    I'm a mystery writer! Yay, I'm with you.

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  10. Gregg MetcalfApril 7, 2012 at 8:46 AM

    I guess I am in the 1% - the religious or inspirational.

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  11. Mina BurrowsApril 7, 2012 at 8:46 AM

    Oooh, this is interesting. There are more than a few that are surprising, :)

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  12. UnknownApril 7, 2012 at 8:50 AM

    I asked a friend the other day what genre she liked to read and she didn't know what genre was!!! I think it's an "in" word that publishers invented (I say that because I'm envious - I can never work out exactly what genre I'm writing!)

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  13. Jemi FraserApril 7, 2012 at 8:57 AM

    Most of my blog buddies write different genres from my favourite (romantic suspense) - that adds to the fun!

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  14. S. L. HennessyApril 7, 2012 at 9:36 AM

    I love all genres (I am the opposite of a book snob), but its interesting to see which genres have the most attention right now. That was a really cool graph!

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  15. Tiana SmithApril 7, 2012 at 9:42 AM

    You didn't have middle grade, so if I remember correctly, I voted for childrens, but I can't remember ...

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  16. Craig EdwardsApril 7, 2012 at 10:16 AM

    Great advice - brainstorming on ideas to draw attention to your chosen genre could be hugely beneficial. I wish everyone luck with whatever genre you choose to write.

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  17. Alex J. CavanaughApril 7, 2012 at 10:29 AM

    Ironically I follow a lot of mystery writers. That young adult is the most popular doesn't surprise me, but the fact science fiction was third does. I always feel the odd one out.

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  18. Jessica SalyerApril 7, 2012 at 10:42 AM

    So that's what you did with that poll. That's interesting.

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  19. DaniApril 7, 2012 at 11:06 AM

    I like so many, I don't know if I fit into just one.

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  20. Nicole PylesApril 7, 2012 at 1:34 PM

    I wonder why fantasy is on the blogosphere a lot? I'm a fantasy novelist, and I don't know that I follow many!

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  21. MFEO2009April 7, 2012 at 1:57 PM

    Interesante!
    Finally back in town for the A-Z Challenge. I've been enjoying catching up. Thanks!

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  22. Eliza WynnApril 7, 2012 at 3:08 PM

    Great post! I read (and occasionally write) suspense and horror more than anything else, but I don't have any blogs about them.

    Ellie
    Ellie's Blank Book
    Ellie's Couch
    Help Michigan Pets

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  23. that guyApril 7, 2012 at 5:55 PM

    the writers world is changing. i guess i need to jump on the train or get off the tracks...

    i find that i lack the discipline to actually finish anythi...

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  24. TracyApril 7, 2012 at 6:24 PM

    interesting...actually surprised at the results.

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  25. Heather MurphyApril 7, 2012 at 6:59 PM

    This is interesting. What ever happened to good Ole fashioned Fiction??? That's what I want to write. I wonder if anyone would read it now!

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  26. Tasha SeegmillerApril 7, 2012 at 8:07 PM

    It's funny because I feel the draw to write YA because so many of my blogger friends write it, but I'm writing women's fiction right now.

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  27. Donna B. McNicolApril 7, 2012 at 11:52 PM

    I've got two WIP, one is a romance that is turning into Chick-Lit and the other a thriller/mystery that is turning into a cozy mystery. None of those are high in the polls either, but it's what I'm comfortable writing.

    Now reading...I'm much more into heavy thriller, suspense stuff. just not ready to write it and envy those that can and do.

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  28. Kern WindwraithApril 8, 2012 at 12:02 AM

    I write literary fiction, so our genres are running pretty much neck and neck. I worried about it for a while but decided to just write what I write and see what happens. Since for the most part I also read literary fiction and mystery/thriller/suspense more than the other genres, I choose to believe the market will be there!

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  29. Angela BrownApril 8, 2012 at 12:03 AM

    Interesting to see the results of that poll. I happen to fall into the fantasy and the YA categories. But sometimes I wonder if maybe there are just too many of us. Then I remember that we are all writing what we love and is there ever really too much love?

    Nah!

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  30. Sarah TokeleyApril 8, 2012 at 3:01 AM

    I quite like being in a minority genre, except for the fact that all the books on my tbr list seem to be YA ones :-)

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  31. Kristin RaeApril 8, 2012 at 10:08 AM

    Wow! Lots of us YA peeps in the blogging world! Where are your fellow mystery writers?! GET YOUR BLOG ON! ;)

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  32. cleemckenzieApril 8, 2012 at 10:43 AM

    Interesting stats. I love a good thriller, but they're hard to find. I'm not much of a YA fantasy fan. I feel there's way too much of it. I am partial to fantasy in middle grade books, however. Horror I can take or leave. Stephen King scares me under the bed.

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  33. Annalisa CrawfordApril 8, 2012 at 2:26 PM

    I feel like an outsider too, because although my novella is being marketed as romance, I'll jump genres like I change socks. I'd love to describe myself as literary, but I don't think I'm deep enough for that. I'm a big mass of indecision - is that a genre?

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  34. Crack You WhipApril 8, 2012 at 4:15 PM

    Mystery and suspense is much more difficult to write, but I enjoy reading it.

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  35. Robyn CampbellApril 8, 2012 at 5:12 PM

    Yay! Since I write MG and picture books. Er, do I win something?? *wink*

    Get your blog on people! :-)

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  36. AnitaApril 8, 2012 at 6:19 PM

    Very interesting & thanks for sharing :)

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  37. Lori DegmanApril 8, 2012 at 7:38 PM

    Hey DL - I gave you the Sunshine Blog Award! Go to my site to find out what to do!

    http://loridegman.blogspot.com/

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  38. MApril 8, 2012 at 9:44 PM

    Very cool poll. I would have been added to the children's section had I participated.
    Happy A-Z April...thanks for hosting!

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  39. AnonymousApril 8, 2012 at 9:44 PM

    interesting G post

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  40. Black VulmeaApril 9, 2012 at 4:02 AM

    I'm a roleplaying gamer, not a writer, but my genre-of-choice as both a gamer and a reader is historical fiction.

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  41. Jack Edwards PoetryApril 9, 2012 at 8:12 AM

    A very interesting post. The poll was a great idea.

    http://jackedwardspoetry.blogspot.co.uk/

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  42. Tony LaplumeApril 10, 2012 at 10:25 PM

    Part of my problem reaching an audience is that I don't often think about what exactly the target audience is supposed to be. The first book I wrote had superheroes in it. The next one was supposed to be a quasi-young adult story, but wound up being literary fiction. The third one definitely was. My current manuscript is also supposed to be young adult, but is probably much more literary fiction...In my short stories, I'm usually far better at sticking to a specific genre. You've got me wanting to do more mystery/thriller material, just to see how it fits.

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